The ABC has decided news anchor Natasha Exelby's fate.

After reports the ABC would be benching casual weekend newsreader Natasha Exelby from its lineup, the national public broadcaster seems to have backflipped on its decision.

Response to the "daydreaming" video online - which went viral when the ABC's own Media Watch shared it on Facebook - was overwhelmingly positive, with a number of journalists tweeting their own on-air gaffes in support of Exelby.

Early reports and swirling rumours that the journalist might get the flick were met with fervent criticism.

@NatashaExelby ❤ to you and if @ABCNews24 don't like *actual humans* on live camera doing *actual human things* they are stuck in 19thC

— Belinda Barnet (@manjusrii) 10 April 2017

@NatashaExelby Appalling response from @ABCnews. Bad outcome on their rebranding day. Natasha, you rock. Always have.

— thekavman (@the_kav_man) 10 April 2017

Even The Project's producer Tania Palich rallied around Exelby, telling her:

@NatashaExelby P.S. My friend - if job reinstated, the answer is no. Come work with us @theprojecttv where shit like this happens every day

— tania palich (@tania_palich) 10 April 2017

Now, in an unusual twist, the ABC has released a statement insisting Exelby won't be losing her job after all.

“Media reports that Natasha has been ‘banned’, ‘barred’ or ‘fired’ are untrue," a statement by News Director Gaven Morris read.

"Natasha is a freelance journalist who works as a contributor.

“She has been rostered for various shifts and has been assured since yesterday that we want that to continue. While she is not currently doing any on-air shifts, this will be subject to normal performance management. I have spoken to Natasha and conveyed our regret that this has attracted such attention.”

Morris also agreed that news presenters are "humans, not robots".

LISTEN: How ABC newsreader Juanita Phillips really "does it all". (Post continues...)

“Live television is a demanding art and slip-ups will happen... We take on-air standards extremely seriously, but we don’t expect perfection.

"No one would ever be punished for a blooper and, while it isn’t appropriate to publicly discuss confidential details of people’s personal work arrangements, this has not happened to Natasha.”

Phew.

Fingers crossed we get more action from the mesmerising pen in years to come.